Teams

Synopsis

During the reign of the Second Hokage, Jiraiya, Tsunade and Orochimaru are placed under Hiruzen Sarutobi's squad, where the latter conducts a bell test. Tsunade and Orochimaru manage to retrieve both bells while Jiraiya is tied to a stump as punishment. In order to motivate Jiraiya, Hiruzen shows him his Summoning Technique, calling forth Monkey King: Enma. Jiraiya then decides to take his training seriously in order to impress Tsunade, whom he has a crush on, and to be able to using the summoning technique himself. After a while of arduous training, Jiraiya attempts to use the summoning technique without having signed a blood contract with an animal, and finds himself transported to Mount Myōboku, home of the toads.

At Mount Myōboku, he defeats a snake, impressing Gamabunta, who was surprised to see a human child there. He brings Jiraiya to Fukasaku, one of the Two Great Sage Toads, who tells him that Gamamaru, the Great Toad Sage, has foretold Jiraiya's arrival and has a prophecy regarding the young shinobi, although he must first train at Mount Myōboku. Dividing his time between Konoha and Mount Myōboku, Jiraiya manages to vastly improve his skills. Upon returning to Mount Myōboku, he is brought forth to the Gamamaru's audience, where the Great Toad Sage tells Jiraiya that one day he shall have an apprentice — a revolutionary who either creates peace and stability or brings about destruction; he adds that he also foresees Jiraiya travelling around the world and writing books, and that it his destiny.

As Jiraiya embarks on his quest, journeying around the world, he comes across six shinobi who would eventually become the Six Paths of Pain. His sojourn for his apprentice, however, is cut short when Tsunade's brother Nawaki is killed and the Third Shinobi World War begins. Jiraiya, along with his teammates Orochimaru and Tsunade, join the war where the trio become known as "The Three Legendary Sannin".